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The Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services is making contingency plans to move all Brantford Jail inmates to a temporary undisclosed facility in the event of a potential provincewide strike by corrections workers on Jan. 10.

There are usually more than 80 inmates housed at the downtown jail.

The ministry is putting in place the contingency plans just as a "no board" report in ongoing difficult negotiations between the provincial government and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) was issued at the union's request. Once a no-board report is issued, there is a 17-day period until the parties are in a legal strike or lockout position. The period expires at 12:01 a.m. on Jan. 10. Since OPSEU requested the no-board report, members in all its locals will be in a position to walk off the job just after midnight Jan. 10.

Talks are still ongoing and a strike may be averted, but the ministry has plans ready just in case.

"In the event of a labour disruption, the ministry continues to be responsible for the health and safety of more than 8,000 inmates (across Ontario), in addition to all of the staff that would run the institutions 24 hours a day," ministry spokesman Stuart McGetrick in an email.

"In order to maximize our resources during a labour disruption, inmates from Brantford Jail will be moved to other facilities and operations suspended. This is a temporary measure and operations will resume once the labour disruption has been resolved."

According to policy, the government is not disclosing the temporary location for safety reasons.

The safety of inmates and staff, as well as the security of the correctional institutions and communities remains the ministry's top priority, said McGetrick.

"The ministry has comprehensive contingency plans in place to maintain essential operations and service, including health-care services, meals and transportation of inmates to and from court, to ensure the continued and safe operation of our facilities."

The Brantford Jail, built on Market Street in 1852, has a capacity of 83 beds for male inmates, but since 2013, has had an average daily bed count of 86.

The cramped and tired jail has been on a death watch for nearly two decades, but the province still has not closed it. The government has been pursuing a plan to close the facility and repurpose it as a downtown court complex.

Brant MPP Dave Levac has been following the jail's long-term future and potential labour dispute.

He said no date has been set for the jail's ultimate closure, and he knows of the ministry's contingency plans to move inmates temporarily during a labour disruption, then move them back when it's over.

Levac was reluctant to speak about the contingency plans with a potential labour disruption in the offing.

"Since they're in the middle of a no-board situation, I can't make any comments on the negotiations," he said.

"These guys do a very difficult job and deserve our respect during this delicate time."

The relocation of Brantford Jail inmates could have other implications, said Danielle Du Sablon, secretary of OPSEU Local 221, which represents probation and parole officers serving the Brantford and Brant County area.

"All institutions are overcrowded and they would be going to another facility that would become more overcrowded," said Du Sablon.

"If there are minimal staff, tension will build and there could be increased lockdowns. There could be a potential for violent disruptions."